Promotions Recognize Faculty Across Disciplines

by Erin Kelly

March 11th, 2013

Gwynn Kessler

Gwynn Kessler, of the Department of Religion, author of Conceiving Israel: The Fetus in Rabbinic Narratives, whose research focuses on rabbinic interpretation of Scripture, rabbinic theology and rabbinic constructions of gender and identity. Kessler's work is situated within, and suffused with, postmodern, feminist and queer theoretical approaches and integrates literary, historical, anthropological and comparative approaches to the study of religion and textual traditions.

Bob Rehak

Bob Rehak, of Film and Media Studies, who specializes in special effects, the evolution of fantastic-media franchises, and materializations of fantasy media. Rehak's recent publications include essays in Cinema Journal and the Screen Decades series (Rutgers); he also has books under contract with Routledge and NYU Press. He serves on the editorial boards of Animation: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Transformative Works and Cultures, and the Journal of Fandom Studies.

Liliya Yatsunyk

Liliya Yatsunyk, of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, whose laboratory focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of novel water soluble porphyrins. These molecules interact with telomeres in tumors and oncogenes promoters in a specific manner leading to cell death (tumor suppression). The long-term goal of Yatsunyk's research is to understand the mechanism of these interactions and pave a way for new and selective anticancer treatments.

The Board also promoted two faculty members to full professor. They are:

Jean-Vincent Blanchard

Jean-Vincent Blanchard, of the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures and author of Éminence: Cardinal Richelieu and the Rise of France, specializes in early modern literature, philosophy, and history. He is finishing a study on the architectonics of power in 17th-century France.

Sarah Willie-LeBreton

Sarah Willie-LeBreton, of the Department of Sociology & Anthropology, specializes in social inequality, higher education, and work and occupations. Willie-LeBreton has been on sabbatical continuing work on a substantial project on librarians and an edited volume on the challenges diverse faculty face in predominantly white campuses.

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